Bhubaneswar: Gone are the days when colourful kites used to flutter in winter skies and soar high in the cities skyline.
Lack of open space, children and youngsters engaged in gadgets and preferring to stay indoors have taken a toll on the beautiful tradition of kite flying in the capital city.
Nilakantha Mishra, a resident of Old Town area said, “Children nowadays are engrossed in their gadgets, missing out on the thrill of holding a string attached to a soaring kite.It was more than just a sport. We used to forget food and sleep for these flying kites, such was their draw. But today’s children can never feel or experience that excitement.”
He blamed it on the advent of video games, smartphones, and other technologically driven activities that have contributed to the decline of kite flying as a popular pastime for children.
Besides, the shrinking urban space is one of the main reasons for the slow death of kite flying in the city, once a popular tradition. “There is no open field left where children will fly kites. Highrises with security guards at the entrance have replaced individual houses and colonies where rooftop gathering was a ritual for flying kites,” said Subhranshu Sahu, a 56-year-old resident of Unit-9 area who became nostalgic about kite-flying sessions.
A few shops in the Old Town area which occasionally sell kites did not stock up this time due to a drop in demand. “Till a few years back I used to sell kites and some children even bought them. But after Covid-19, the sport has almost no takers,” said Dinabandhu Samantray, a shopkeeper in the area.
Old-timers also lamented lack of effort from cultural organisations or government to keep this tradition alive.